Adjustable loader beam



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United States Patent Oiice 3,075,478 Patented Jan. 29, 1963 3,075,478ADJUSTABLE LOADER BEAM Edwin C. Elsner, Pasadena, Calif., assignor toAeroquip Corporation, Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan FiledApr. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 21,543

7 Claims. (Cl. 10S-369) This invention relates to a device for use incargo bracing, and the device is particularly adaptable for use inrailroad box cars, although it will be obvious that it has great utilitywherever iirm, adjustable cross-bracing is required. v

lts particular advantage is that it is capable of infinite adjustment,so that when it is used for cargo bracing, it may be adjusted accuratelyto lit a more substantial face of the cargo to be braced, even if suchface 4is irregular. Furthermore, if greater rigidity is required than`can be furnished by a single beam, the `iniinite adjustment feature ofthe device may be utilized to bring a plurality of beams into rm contactalong their entire length, thereby sharply increasing the strength andrigidity factor of the bracing. Other uses which take advantage of theunique infinite adjustment features of the device of the presentinvention will be suggested by the detailed description which follows.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for bracing orpartitioning which is rugged in construction, but at the same timecapable of infinite lateral positioning without damage to the vehicle orstorage compartment in which it is installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a loader beam, a pluralityof which may be mounted in full contact along their entire length.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bracing assembly whichmay be easily installed and readily removed, without damage to the walls`or partitions on which it is mounted.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a loader beam withadjustable mounting elements which may be readily and inexpensivelymanufactured and assembled.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consistsof theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of thedevice whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter setforth pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a plan view of the inside of a railroad freight car with thedevice of the present invention installed therein.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device, partly cut away. y

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the device, also partly cut away. j

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, detailed plan View of one end of the device.

`FIGURE 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a plan vview similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the device4mounted olf-center.

FIGURE 7 is a view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 8 is a view taken on the line 8--8 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 9 lis a view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE l0 4is a view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG- URE 2.

-A hollow beam l10 is provided, which preferably is of rectangularcross-section, but may be of other configuration. When the device isused for heavy cross-bracing, as in a railroad box car, the beam isgenerally made of steel of heavy gauge, but it will be understood thatthe anticipated use of the device will dictate the character andstrength of the material to be used in constructing the beam. It willalso be clear that although a hollow beam is herein specified, ifdesired, only the ends thereof need be hollow.

Mounted internally in said beam 10 adjacent the end thereof and atopposite sides of said beam 10 are matching elongate retaining plates20, which have fla-t surfaces 21 immediately adjacent the end of saidbeam 10. Each of said plates has an elongate, internally protrudingflange 22 at the opposite end thereof, and an elongate groove 23 isprovided intermediate the ends of each lsuch flange 22. 5

Said plates 20 may be rigidly secured to said beam 10 by any suitablemeans, such as by nuts and bolts 24.

An aligned bore 25 is cut through said beam 10 and said plates 20adjacent the end of said beam 10.

An elongate hollow tongue is axially disposed in the hollow end of saidbeam 10 and protrudes therefrom. Mounted adjacent the internal end ofsaid tongue 30 is a cross-plate 31 having bent end portions 32 and 33extending 4in one direction, and overlying said cross-plate 31 is asecond cross-plate 34 having bent end portions 35 and 36 extending inthe opposite direction, said bent end portions 32, 33, and 36 serving asrocker arms, and being disposed so as to .abut against the internal sideof beamlt), and permit the oblique turning of tongue 30 in beam 10 ashereinafter described.

Said cross-plates 31 and 34 have slotted openings 37 therein, disposedso as to slidably receive plates 20 `at their groove portions 23, and sothat longitudinal movement of said cross-plates and tongue 30 will beconfined by the limits of said groove portions'23.

Dual cross-plates 31 and 34 are suggester for manufacturingstandardization purposes, but it will be readily understood-that in lieuof dual cross-plates 3'1 and 34, a single cross-plate may besubstituted, said single crossplate having abutting rocker arms on theends thereof, disposed in opposite directions, as are the rocker arms32, 33, 35 and 36 of dual cross-plates 31 and 34.

Other means of confining the inner end of tongue 30 -in beam 10 may beutilized, and one suggested method is to eliminate the cross-plate androcker arm construction and to substitute in lieu thereof a pin spanningbeam 10 on which the inner end of tongue 30 may be pivotally mounted.However, the construction herein 'illustrated and described has been`found preferable to other means for each of manufacturing and assembly,as well as adaptability for the purposes intended.

. Intermediate the ends of said tongue 30, preferably adjacent theprotruding portion thereof, and aligned with bore 25, is an elongate,lateral opening 40. Freely disposed internally in` tongue 30 is a oatmember 41, which is preferably of modified elliptical contour to allow awider range of movement, as hereinafter described. A threaded bore 42 isprovided intermediate the ends of said float 41, and an externallythreaded stud 43 is mounted in said aligned bores 25 and 42. The ends ofsaid threaded stud 43 may be provided with sockets 44 for receiving aWrench, or may be provided with any other suitable external means forturning said stud 43.

The internal end of said oat 41 may be provided with a protruding sppr45 on which is mounted a spring 46,. The other end'of spring 46 may bemounted on cross'- plate 31. Spring 46 will bias tongue 30 outwardlyfrom beam 10.

Adjacent the protruding end 50 of tongue 30 and on opposite sidesthereof are identations 51 and 52, and adjacent said indentations 51 and52, angle irons 53 and 54 are mounted on opposite sides of said tongue30 and disposed so as to act as handholds. Although only one indentationis utilized in operation of the device, two indentations are illustratedand provided so that in assembly of the device, either side of tongue 30may be utilized for the seating operation hereinafter described.

A track 60 has a series of slotted openings 61 of suicient dimension toreadily accommodate end 50 of tongue 30. Said slotted openings 61 arespaced apart from each other a predetermined distance, and it has beenfound advantageous to space said openings 61 so that the maximum lateraltravel of tongue 30, as hereinafter described, is always somewhatgreater than the width of one slotted opening 61 plus the width of aspace between adjacent slotted openings 61. Said track 60 is humped atthe center thereof so as to form a hollow portion of said track 60 andprovide ample space in back of slotted openings 61 to accommodate end 50of tongue 30.

In use, several sets of tracks may be provided at varying heights alongopposite sides of the cargo space. After cargo is stowed away in aportion of the cargo space, and when it is desired to firmly brace saidcargo against movement in said cargo space, a beam is brought intoposition at a selected height adjacent said cargo. The length of saidbeam 10 will be something less than the distance between tracks 60 onopposite sides of the cargo space.

A slot 61 in one track 60, as close to said cargo as is feasible, willthen be selected, and one end of beam 10 will be brought into closeproximity therewith. The tongue 3) protruding from said end' of beam 10will then be inserted in the selected slot 61 untily indentation 52 isaligned' with said slot 61 and the lower edge of said slot 61 is seatedin indentation 52.

Beam 10 will then be brought up against the cargo and into closeproximity with the corresponding track 60 on the opposite side of thecargo space, and an appropriate slotl 61 in said track 60, as close tosaid cargo as is feasible, will be selected. It will be understood thattongue at that end of beam 10 will be biased outwardly by the action ofspring 46. Tongue 30 will be moved inwardly, against the biasing actionof saidl spring 46, by exerting pressure onhandholds 53y and 54, untiltongue 30 is properly aligned withy slot 61', whereon pressure onhandholds 53 and 54 willbe relaxed, and end 50f of tongue 30 will enterslot 61, andV ultimately slot 61v will be seated in indentation 52 ofsaid tongue 30.

Assuming that the cargov facel is not exactly at right angles to the.sides of the cargo space, it may be necessary'v to. adjust' the positionof beam 10 after it has been mounted, asv hereinafter described.`Infinite adjustment can be. made at either or both: ends ofbeam 10 bymanipulation of threaded stud 43, which will cause tongue 30 to moveobliquely in relation to beam 10, by movement of fiat 41 along thethreads of stud 43 in the desired direction, and by the rockingmovementof overlying. crossplates 31 and 34 on rocker arms 32 andl 33,.anda 35 and 36, on the inside lateral surfaces of beam'10;

Furthermore,y if itis desired to add rigidity and. strength to beam 10,a second beam 10 maybe similarly' mounted in closev parallelrelationship tol said first beam 10, and firm contact can be. made alongthe entire length of both beams 10 by proper manipulation of studs43 ofsaidlbeam assemblies.

Although` I. have herein shown and. described: my invention in what Ihave conceived to be the most practical and preferredf embodiment, it isrecognized: that departures may bemade therefrom within the scope of myinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbutis to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand. all equivalent structures and methods.

I claim:

1. An. adjustable loader beam which comprises: a hollow beam having anopen end; elongate retaining plates mounted internally in said hollowbeam adjacent the open end of said beam; internally projecting flangesmounted on said retaining plates and disposed in opposed relationship toeach other; longitudinally extending grooves in said anges intermediatethe ends of said flanges; a crossplate spanning the interior of saidhollow beam, loosely disposed therein between the grooves in saidflanges, and confined against extended longitudinal movement in saidhollow beam by said flanges; a tongue mounted on said cross-plate atsubstantially the center of said cross-plate and having an end of saidtongue protruding outwardly from the open end of said hollow beam; andthe thickness of said tongue being predetermined to allow lateralmovement thereof within the open end of said beam; an externallythreaded stud iixedly mounted Within said beam and spanning the open endthereof; and means forming a connection between said stud and saidtongue wherein rotation of said stud moves said tongue obliquely in saidbeam.

2. An adjustable loader beam as defined in claim 1, including rockerarms on said cross-plate rockably engaging the internal sides of saidhollow beam.

3. An adjustable loader beam as defined in claim 2, wherein said tongueis hollow and including a oat disposed in the hollow portionA of saidtongue; and a threaded bore in said oat in which said externallythreaded stud is disposed.

4. An adjustable loader beam as defined in claim 3, wherein said tongueis slidable on said oat', and including means' for rotating said stud soas to move the protruding end of said tongue laterally and obliquely insaid beam; and including spring biasing means connected internally tothe inner end of said tongue and to said float so as to bias said tongueoutwardly from said beam.

5. An adjustable loader beam which comprises: a hollow beam having anopen end; a hollow tongue loosely confined in said beam at the open endof said beam, having an inner end and a protruding anchor-engaging outerend, and having elongate lateral openings; rocker arms secured to theinner end of said tongue and rockably engaging the internal sides ofsaidbeam; a float disposed in the hollow' portion of said tongue; athreaded bore in said float; and an externally threaded stud disposed insaid threaded bore, passing through the lateral openings in said tongue,and spanningthe open end of said beam, so as to swing said tongueobliquely about said rocker arms.

6. An adjustablev loader beam as defined in claim 5, wherein said tongueis slidable on said float, and including means for rotating said stud soas to move the protruding end of said tongue laterally and obliquely insaid beam; `and including. spring biasing means connected internally tothe inner end of. said` tongue and to said oat so as to bias said tongueoutwardly from said beam.

7. An adjustable loader beam which comprises: a hollow beam having anopen end; a tongue loosely confined in said beam at the open end of saidbeam and having an inner end and a protruding anchor engaging outer end;rocker means adjacent the inner end of said tongue and rockably engagingthe internal sides of said beam; and an externally threadedA studoperatively'engaging said tongue and spanning the open end of said beamso as to swing said tongue obliquelyl about said rocker arms; theprotruding outer end of said` tonguefincluding an indentation forengagement with: one edgey of a slotted openingV of an anchor member.

Nampa July 4, '1950 Brown etal May 29, 1956

1. AN ADJUSTABLE LOADER BEAM WHICH COMPRISES: A HOLLOW BEAM HAVING ANOPEN END; ELONGATE RETAINING PLATES MOUNTED INTERNALLY IN SAID HOLLOWBEAM ADJACENT THE OPEN END OF SAID BEAM; INTERNALLY PROJECTING FLANGESMOUNTED ON SAID RETAINING PLATES AND DISPOSED IN OPPOSED RELATIONSHIP TOEACH OTHER; LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVES IN SAID FLANGESINTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID FLANGES; A CROSSPLATE SPANNING THEINTERIOR OF SAID HOLLOW BEAM, LOOSELY DISPOSED THEREIN BETWEEN THEGROOVES IN SAID FLANGES, AND CONFINED AGAINST EXTENDED LONGITUDINALMOVEMENT IN SAID HOLLOW BEAM BY SAID FLANGES; A TONGUE MOUNTED ON SAIDCROSS-PLATE AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE CENTER OF SAID CROSS-PLATE AND HAVINGAN END OF SAID TONGUE PROTRUDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE OPEN END OF SAIDHOLLOW BEAM; AND THE THICKNESS OF SAID TONGUE BEING PREDETERMINED TOALLOW LATERAL MOVEMENT THEREOF WITHIN THE OPEN END OF SAID BEAM; ANEXTERNALLY THREADED STUD FIXEDLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID BEAM AND SPANNINGTHE OPEN END THEREOF; AND MEANS FORMING A CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID STUDAND SAID TONGUE WHEREIN ROTATION OF SAID STUD MOVES SAID TONGUEOBLIQUELY IN SAID BEAM.